JP3441743B2 - Ink jet recording device - Google Patents

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to an ink jet recording <br/> equipment.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, an ink jet recording apparatus has been used in which a heating element as a discharge energy generating element is provided in a discharge member such as a nozzle and the discharge members are aligned.

That is, by energizing a heating element (hereinafter referred to as a heater) provided in a minute nozzle for ejecting ink, the heating element is caused to generate heat, and a rapid volume change occurs when the ink around the heater is heated or bubbled. Is used to perform recording by ejecting ink droplets from an ejection port, and there is one having a head in which a large number of nozzles are arranged and arranged in a predetermined direction.

In such an ink jet recording apparatus,
In general, a divided drive system has been adopted in which nozzles are divided into groups by a predetermined number and a heater is driven in each group. This is an effective method for downsizing the power source for driving the head and the power source member such as the flexible cable for the power source connector.

Further, the ink jet power supply should have a very small variation in voltage value in order to perform stable ejection in consideration of the characteristics of the heater and ink.
Since it is not preferable to increase the capacity of the power supply because it requires fine adjustment of the voltage value, the above method was effective in avoiding this.

A conventional example will be described below with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 6 is a block diagram of a conventional ink jet recording apparatus, and FIG. 7 is a timing chart showing the operation timing of this conventional example.

In FIG. 6, reference numeral 1 denotes an ink jet head unit having, for example, 40 nozzles, and these nozzles are divided into five groups from a first group to a fifth group with eight nozzles as one group. There is.
During recording, each of these groups is sequentially driven in group units.

Reference numeral 2 denotes a head drive unit having a head drive element provided corresponding to each of the nozzles, and the head drive element is an NPN transistor connected in Darlington.

Reference numeral 3 denotes a shift register (SR), which is shown in FIG.
ECK signal and EIN signal as shown in
Output signal Q corresponding to each group during one cycle of CK signal
_{One of A} to Q _E is sequentially output.

Reference numeral 4 denotes a control unit for controlling the head drive unit 2, which has an AND gate corresponding to the heater provided in each nozzle. Each AND gate has three inputs, the first input is a drive control signal from the division control unit, and the second input is 40 dot data (Dot Data) signals (SD signals) serially input from a CPU or the like. )
The third input receives a print permission signal (ENB signal), and controls which of the first to fifth groups the Dot Data is output to perform printing when printing is permitted.

For example, the AND gate 4 corresponding to the first group has a drive control signal Q _A and a recording signal Dot Data.
# 1, # 6, # 11, # 16, # 21, # 26, # 3
AND gate 4 corresponding to the second group outputs signals Q _B and # 2, # 7, # 1.
The AND gate 4 corresponding to the third group outputs the signal Q to any one of # 2, # 17, # 22, # 27, # 32, and # 37.
_C and # 3, # 8, # 13, # 18, # 23, # 28, #
33, # 38, AND gate 4 corresponding to the fourth group outputs signals Q _D and # 4, # 9, # 14, # 1.
Any one of 9, # 24, # 29, # 34, and # 39 is supplied to the AND gate 4 corresponding to the fifth group by the signals Q _E and #.
5, # 10, # 15, # 20, # 25, # 30, # 3
Accept any one of # 5 and # 40.

Reference numeral 5 denotes each D output from the shift register 3.
This is a latch for temporarily recording ot Data.

[0014]

As described above, in the conventional ink jet recording apparatus, the divided drive method in which the nozzles are divided into groups by a predetermined number and the nozzles are driven for each group is a dot data input by serial transmission.
shift register for converting a into parallel data corresponding to each nozzle and each Do output from the shift register.
There is a problem to be solved in that latches for temporarily storing t Data are required for the number of nozzles of the inkjet head unit.

When the number of nozzles increases as described above,
A shift register and a latch must be prepared for that amount, and the circuit configuration becomes complicated and large-scale solution.
There was a task to be done.

Further, the substrate due to the expansion of the circuit from the problems to be solved that the size of the apparatus main body, the high pitch of the attempt is made compact to the substrate pattern other words, cost due to an increase in IC occurs was there.

The present invention has been made in order to solve the above problems , and the number of shift registers and latches can be greatly reduced, the circuit itself can be simplified, and the size and cost of the device can be reduced accordingly. The purpose is to enable.

[0018]

In order to achieve the above object, in the present invention, an ink jet recording apparatus is constructed as described in (1) to ( 3 ) below.

(1) In an ink jet recording apparatus for recording using a plurality of nozzles for ejecting ink, recording information for the predetermined number of nozzles when all nozzles are divided into a plurality of groups by a predetermined number of nozzles. Then, the print information corresponding to the discrete nozzle positions is received as serial data in which the print information is continuously arranged, is converted into parallel data corresponding to the discrete nozzle positions, and prints for the predetermined number of nozzles. wherein the row intends converting means said transformed receiving the record information of information units, received and group selection circuitry for the group corresponding selectively drivably to the data, the converted parallel data in the conversion unit The same number as the total number of nozzles is provided to selectively drive and control each nozzle in response to a signal from the group selection circuit. And a a drive control device, wherein
Receipt of record information by conversion means, conversion, and recording
Record information corresponding to the total number of nozzles by repeating and
Inkjet recording device that performs conversion processing and recording .

[0020] (2) Before Symbol nozzle provided corresponding thermal energy generating means for forming a flying liquid droplet by the ink on the basis of the state change to occur a state change by heat discharged from the nozzle to the ink The inkjet recording apparatus according to (1) above, which further comprises:

(3) The ink jet recording apparatus according to (1), wherein the group selection circuit is a shift register that sequentially generates a signal for selecting a group for recording.

[0022]

[0023]

[0024]

[0025]

According to the present invention, when all nozzles are divided into a plurality of groups by a predetermined number of nozzles, the recording information corresponding to the predetermined number of nozzles, which corresponds to discrete nozzle positions,
Receiving a serial data recording information is continuously arranged, the discrete converts the nozzle position in the parallel data corresponding row doctor said transformed receiving the record information recorded information of the predetermined number of nozzles minutes as a unit , The group corresponding to the data received by the group selection circuit is drivably selected, and the parallel data converted by the conversion means by the drive control elements provided in the same number as the total number of nozzles and the signal from the group selection circuit are selected. In response, each nozzle is selectively driven and controlled.

[0026]

EXAMPLES The following will be described on the basis of the actual施例of the invention with reference to the accompanying drawings.

First, an ink jet recording apparatus which is a first embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a main part of an ink jet recording apparatus according to a first embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a timing diagram showing operation timing of the first embodiment, and FIG. 3 is a division drive control unit of FIG. It is a circuit diagram of.

In the figure, the same reference numerals as those used in the conventional example indicate the same or corresponding portions, and the description will be partially repeated.

In the first embodiment, the divided drive signal as the drive means is used as a select signal for outputting Dot Data, so that the data input by serial transmission is converted into parallel Dot Data corresponding to each nozzle. The number of shift registers 6 that perform conversion and the number of latches 5 that temporarily store each Dot Data output from the shift register 6 are respectively n = total number of nozzles / division driving number, that is, one group grouped by division driving. It is composed of shift registers and latches corresponding to the number of nozzles of the.

The details will be described below with reference to FIGS. 1 to 3.

1 to 3, reference numeral 1 denotes an ink jet head unit having 40 nozzles, and a head drive voltage V _H is supplied to the heater in each nozzle. Reference numeral 2 is a head drive unit having a head drive element provided corresponding to each nozzle. Reference numeral 3 is a shift register for sequentially generating divided signals for performing divided driving.

Here, the head drive element is an NPN transistor connected in Darlington connection.
Each of the above elements is divided into 8 by the division signal from the shift register 3.
The device (8 nozzles) is divided into 5 groups.

The first group is # 1, # 6, # 11, # 1.
6 , each element (nozzle) of # 21, # 26, # 31, and # 36 includes a second group of # 2, # 7, # 12,
In each element of # 17, # 22, # 27, # 32, and # 37, the third group includes # 3, # 8, # 13, and # 1.
In each element of 8, # 23, # 28, # 33, and # 38, the fourth group includes # 4, # 9, # 14, # 19, and #.
In each element of 24, # 29, # 34, and # 39,
The fifth group is # 5, # 10, # 15, # 20, # 2
5, # 30, # 35, # 40.

Reference numeral 4 denotes a divisional drive control unit, which receives the input 8
One of the Dot Data is selected by the division signal from the shift register 3 to which of the first to fifth groups the data is to be output, and is output to the head drive unit 2 by the print enable signal (ENB signal), and 40 Input AND gates are connected for each group.

Then, in the first embodiment, as shown in FIG. 3, the Dot Data of the leading AND gate of each group is shown.
The inputs of are commonly connected to Dot Data1 and are connected so as to select a group according to a divided signal. Reference numeral 6 is a shift register that outputs the recording information transmitted serially from a memory or the like in parallel in units of eight,
5 are 8 Dot D output from the shift register 6
This is a latch for latching each ata signal and supplying it to the split drive control unit 4.

Next, the operation of the first embodiment will be described with reference to FIG.

FIG. 2 shows the operation timing of FIG.

First, the shift register 6 is provided in units of 8 pieces of recording information (Dot Data) which is an SD signal from a memory or the like.
Entered in. The shift register 6 uses this Dot Dat
a is sequentially captured by the SCK signal and converted into a parallel signal. After this, each Dot is changed by the latch signal (LA signal).
Data is temporarily stored in 8 latches.

On the other hand, the ECK signal is always input to the shift register 3, and when the Dot Data is latched, the divided signal Q _A is output by the EIN signal for only one period of the ECK signal. This makes Dot Dat
a is # 1, # 6 of the division control unit 4 to which Q _A is connected.
The signals are input to # 11, # 16, # 21, # 26, # 31, and # 36, respectively, and are printed by the print permission signal (ENB signal). After printing, the shift register 6 and the latch 5 are cleared by the S / L CLR signal, and waiting for the input of Dot Data.

Then, the next eight Dot Data are divided by the output Q _B of the shift register 3 into # 2 of the division controller 4.
# 7, # 12, # 17, # 22, # 27, # 32, # 3
It is output to 7 and printed by the ENB signal. After that, Dot Data is output in units of 8 to the gates of the third to fifth groups by Q _C , Q _D , and Q _E , and printing is performed.

When the printing of the fifth group is completed, the SC
The LR signal is output, the shift register 3 is cleared, and the division signal Q _A is used again to perform printing in units of 8 from the first group.

That is, according to the first embodiment, the drive of the ink jet head unit is grouped by using the divided signals of Q _A to Q _E which are the outputs of the shift register 3, and the printing is performed for each group. It is possible to greatly reduce the number of shift registers and latches in the same section, simplify the board, reduce the size of the device, reduce the size of the device, and reduce the cost, and maximize the advantages of the split drive method. it can.

Next, an ink jet recording apparatus according to the second embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS.

The second embodiment relates to a division drive system of a color ink jet recording apparatus.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram of an ink jet recording apparatus according to the second embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 5 is a timing chart showing the operation timing of the second embodiment.

In FIG. 4, reference numeral 1 is an ink jet head unit having 64 nozzles, and a cyan head,
It consists of four head units each for magenta head, yellow head and black head.
Drive voltages V _HC , V _HM , V _HY , and V _HK are supplied to the heaters in the nozzles of each head for each head.

Reference numeral 3 denotes a shift register (SR) that sequentially generates eight division signals for performing division driving, and is similarly connected to each head. Here, as the head drive element, an NPN type transistor with Darlington connection is used, and each element in each head is divided into 8 groups (8 nozzles) in units of 8 elements (8 nozzles) by the division drive signal from the shift register 3. Is divided into

Of the eight groups, the first group is # 1, # 9, # 17, # 25, # 33, # 41, # 4.
In each element (nozzle) of # 9 and # 57, the second group is #
2, # 10, # 18, # 26, # 34, # 42, # 5
In each element of 0 and # 58, the third group is # 3, # 11,
Each of the elements # 19, # 27, # 35, # 43, # 51, and # 59 is also composed of a combination of eight elements (nozzles) in the following groups. Reference numeral 4 denotes a division drive control unit, which inputs eight Dot Data
Is selected by the division signal from the shift register 3 to which of the first to eighth groups of each head the Dot Data is output, and the print enable signal (ENB signal) is selected.
Then, the output is performed to the head drive unit 2, and 64 3-input AND gates for one color (one head) are connected in each group unit.

Reference numeral 7 is a decoder for selecting each of the four color heads, and includes HEADSEL0 and HEADSEL1.
The two color signals are used to sequentially switch the four color heads.

Reference numeral 8 is a buffer for controlling output by the head select signal output from the decoder 7. Reference numeral 6 is a shift register (S) for converting the recording information transmitted serially from a memory or the like into parallel units in units of 8 and outputting them.
R), and 5 is a latch (LA) for latching each of the eight Dot Data signals output from the shift register 6 and supplying the latched signals to the division drive control unit 4.

Next, the operation timing of the second embodiment will be described with reference to FIG.

FIG. 5 shows the operation timing of FIG. In FIG. 5, first, recording information (Dot Data), which is an SD signal, is input to the shift register 6 (FIG. 4) in units of 8 from a memory or the like. The shift register 6 sequentially takes in this Dot Data by the SCK signal and converts it into a parallel signal. After that, each Dot Data is temporarily stored in the eight latches 5 by the latch signal (LA signal). Next, 8 Dots stored in the latch 5
In order to determine which head is used to print Data, the heads are sequentially selected by two signals HEADSEL0 and HEADSEL1, and the output of the buffer 8 corresponding to each of the eight heads selected by this signal A buffer 8 that controls and corresponds to the selected head
Outputs Dot Data.

For example, in FIG. 5, HEADSEL0, HE
If both ADSEL1 are in the "Low" state and the cyan head is selected in this state, the data is transferred to the buffer 8 corresponding to the cyan head.

Next, the Dot D input to the buffer 8
ata is assigned to any one of the first to eighth groups of cyan heads by the division drive signal obtained from the shift register 3 according to the ECK signal and the EIN signal.
Whether to output t Data is selected. Here, first, the division drive signal Q _A is output, and the first group is selected by Q _A , and # 1, # 9, #
It is output to 17, # 25, # 33, # 41, # 49, and # 57, and is output to the cyan head in response to the print permission signal (ENB signal). After printing, the shift register 6 and the latch 5 are cleared by the S / L CLR signal, and the next data is awaited.

Thereafter, the Dot Da input in units of 8
The second to eighth groups are sequentially selected by the division drive signals Q _B to Q _{H for} ta and printing is performed. And
When the eighth group of printing is completed by the division drive signal Q _H , 64 Dot Data of the cyan head are printed.
Finish printing (for one line of head unit), then press H
The signals of EADSEL0 and HEADSEL1 are "Lo.
When it becomes w "or" Hi ", the magenta head is selected and the first division drive signals Q _A to Q _H
Or, the eighth group is sequentially selected and printing is performed similarly.

That is, according to this example, the drive of the ink jet unit is grouped by using the division drive signals of Q _A to Q _H which are the outputs of the shift register 3, and the drive is performed for each group, and the decoder 7 is used. Selects the head to be used and prints. Dot Dat
Since the shift register 6 and the latch 5 in the input part of a can be significantly reduced, the board can be simplified and downsized,
As a result, it is possible to obtain sufficient effects in downsizing the device and reducing costs.

Regarding the printing speed, it is possible to cope with the decrease in speed by increasing the clock signals shown in FIG.

The present invention brings excellent effects especially in a recording head and a recording apparatus of a system utilizing thermal energy among the ink jet recording systems.

With regard to its typical structure and principle, for example, US Pat. Nos. 4,723,129 and 4740 are applicable.
What is done using the basic principles disclosed in 796 is preferred. This method is a so-called on-demand type,
It can be applied to any of the continuous types, but in particular, in the case of the on-demand type, it is arranged corresponding to the sheet or the liquid path in which the liquid (ink) is held, to the electrothermal converter, By applying at least one drive signal that corresponds to the recorded information and gives a rapid temperature rise exceeding nucleate boiling, heat energy is generated in the electrothermal converter, and the film is boiled on the heat acting surface of the recording head. As a result, bubbles can be formed in the liquid (ink) in a one-to-one correspondence with this drive signal, which is effective. The liquid (ink) is ejected through the ejection openings by the growth and contraction of the bubbles to form at least one droplet. This drive signal pulse shape is more preferable because the growth and contraction of the bubbles are immediately and appropriately performed, so that the ejection of the liquid (ink) having excellent responsiveness can be achieved. As the pulse-shaped drive signal, those described in US Pat. Nos. 4,463,359 and 4,345,262 are suitable. still,
US Patent No. 4 of the invention relating to the rate of temperature rise of the heat acting surface
If the conditions described in the specification of No. 313124 are adopted, more excellent recording can be performed.

As the constitution of the recording head, in addition to the combination constitution of the ejection port, the liquid passage, and the electrothermal converter (the linear liquid passage or the right-angled liquid passage) as disclosed in the above-mentioned specifications, The present invention also includes configurations using US Pat. No. 4,558,333 and US Pat. No. 4,459,600, which disclose a configuration in which the heat acting portion is arranged in a bending region. In addition, for multiple electrothermal converters,
Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 123670/1984, which discloses a configuration in which a common slit is used as the discharge portion of the electrothermal converter, and Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. Sho-62-62, which discloses a configuration in which an opening for absorbing a pressure wave of thermal energy is associated with the discharge portion The present invention is also effective as a configuration based on 1983 No. 138461.

[0062]

As described above, according to the present invention, the number of shift registers and latches can be greatly reduced, the circuit itself can be simplified, and the device can be downsized and the cost can be reduced accordingly. You can Further, in the present invention, when all nozzles are divided into a plurality of groups by a predetermined number of nozzles, the recording information corresponding to the predetermined number of nozzles and the recording information corresponding to the discrete nozzle positions are continuously arranged. was received as a serial data, converts the parallel data corresponding to the discrete nozzle position, have rows the converted reception of recording information the record information of the predetermined number of nozzles minutes as a unit, we received a group select circuit The group corresponding to the data is selected to be drivable, and the parallel data converted by the conversion means by the drive control elements provided in the same number as the total number of nozzles and the signal from the group selection circuit are received, and each nozzle is selected. Since the drive is selectively controlled, the number of shift registers is reduced and the nozzle drive is distributed without performing complicated drive. It can be dynamic.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram of a main part of an inkjet recording apparatus according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a timing chart showing the operation timing of the first embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a circuit diagram of a division drive control unit in FIG.

FIG. 4 is a configuration diagram of an ink jet recording apparatus that is a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a timing chart showing the operation timing of the second embodiment.

FIG. 6 is a configuration diagram of a conventional inkjet recording apparatus.

FIG. 7 is a timing chart showing the operation timing of a conventional example.

[Explanation of symbols]

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 inkjet head unit 2 head drive section 3 shift register for division drive signal generation 4 division drive control section 5 latch 6 shift register for data input 7 decoder (or selector) 8 buffer SCK, ECK clock signal SD serial data signal LA latch signal EIN Input signals Q _A to Q _H for division drive signal generation Head unit select signals S / L CLR, SCLR Shift register / latch clear signal ENB Print enable signal The same reference numerals in the drawings indicate the same or corresponding portions.

─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of the front page (72) Inventor Jun Asuwa 3-30-2 Shimomaruko, Ota-ku, Tokyo Canon Inc. (56) References JP-A-3-15556 (JP, A) JP-A-1 -198368 (JP, A) Actual Kaihei 3-62844 (JP, U) (58) Fields investigated (Int.Cl. ⁷ , DB name) B41J 2/01 B41J 2/05

Claims (3)

(57) [Claims] 1. In an ink jet recording apparatus for recording using a plurality of nozzles for ejecting ink, the recording information corresponds to the predetermined number of nozzles when all nozzles are divided into a plurality of groups with a predetermined number of nozzles. The recording information corresponding to discrete nozzle positions is received as serial data in which the recording information is continuously arranged, and converted into parallel data corresponding to the discrete nozzle positions,
And receiving a row intends converting means the conversion of the record information recorded information of the predetermined number of nozzles minutes as a unit, and group selection circuitry for the group corresponding to selected drivable data received, by the conversion means in response to the converted parallel data and signals from the group selection circuit, and a the total number of nozzles of the same number provided drive control device for controlling selectively driving each nozzle respectively, recorded by the converting means The receipt of information and the conversion,
Recording corresponding to the total number of nozzles by repeating recording and
An ink jet recording apparatus characterized by performing conversion processing and recording of information . 2. A thermal energy generating unit provided corresponding to the nozzle, which causes a state change in the ink due to heat and ejects the ink from the nozzle based on the state change to form a flying droplet. The inkjet recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the inkjet recording apparatus is an inkjet recording apparatus. 3. The ink jet recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the group selection circuit is a shift register that sequentially generates a signal for selecting a group for recording.